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Post by admin on Oct 3, 2009 8:54:57 GMT -5
I did not watch the debates, but the reporting in the APP backs up my predictions. Corzine will win. I predicted this over a month ago when Christy still had a very nice lead which has since shrunk to about three points. The reasons for my predictions are simple. Christy is a RINO and as per the reporting, did not offer much in the way of definable solutions. According to reports, he deflected and blamed Corzine instead of offering solutions. Christy's failure to define himself as something more than the "I"m not Corzine" will ensure his defeat, voters will stay in their comfort zone. Riding the coat tails of Democrat failure will not get any RINO elected. On the other hand, Dagget is coming out of the gate swinging. I will be voting for him. This is all a reflection of the sad state of political affairs in New Jersey. Voters will be stupid enough to keep Corzine. And as usual, the GOP in this state is about inspiring as a bowl of grapes. We have the government we ask for and we will probably wonder why our taxes will continue to sky rocket, corruption runs rampant, and people continue to flee this state and droves. In the end, we need not look any further than the mirror. At least Daggett has a tax plan www.app.com/article/20091002/OPINION01/910030309/1029/OPINION/At+least+Daggett+has+a+tax+planChristie tiptoes to finish line www.app.com/article/20091001/OPINION01/910020333/1029/Christie+tiptoes+to+finish+line |
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Post by admin on Nov 1, 2009 10:25:26 GMT -5
Here is one reason to vote for Christy..... www.bluejersey.com/diary/13258/corzine-hits-christie-for-proposed-cuts-to-preschoolThey were reinforcing that message when the Governor went after Christie over his previous statements about pre-school at a press conference at a school in the Pennsauken school district, which has full day pre-school : "Christie has let everyone know, repeatedly, that he thinks pre-k is 'babysitting'", said Corzine. "Now he is letting everyone know that if he were to be elected governor next week he would eliminate funding for this critical educational tool in 115 districts all across New Jersey. Christie would turn his back on more than 8,500 kids across New Jersey. He continues to be extremely wrong when it matters most." In a Press of AC interview last week, Christie said he would stop state funding for pre-school in all but the 31 former "Abbott" districts. The newspaper reported that Christie's plan "would eliminate funding for 115 districts . . . This year, 146 districts received $570.1 million for pre-school aid." In Union County alone, 583 children would be locked out with 255 kids in Linden alone sent home. |
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Post by admin on Nov 1, 2009 10:29:33 GMT -5
Here is one reason to vote for Christy..... www.bluejersey.com/diary/13258/corzine-hits-christie-for-proposed-cuts-to-preschoolThey were reinforcing that message when the Governor went after Christie over his previous statements about pre-school at a press conference at a school in the Pennsauken school district, which has full day pre-school : "Christie has let everyone know, repeatedly, that he thinks pre-k is 'babysitting'", said Corzine. "Now he is letting everyone know that if he were to be elected governor next week he would eliminate funding for this critical educational tool in 115 districts all across New Jersey. Christie would turn his back on more than 8,500 kids across New Jersey. He continues to be extremely wrong when it matters most." In a Press of AC interview last week, Christie said he would stop state funding for pre-school in all but the 31 former "Abbott" districts. The newspaper reported that Christie's plan "would eliminate funding for 115 districts . . . This year, 146 districts received $570.1 million for pre-school aid." In Union County alone, 583 children would be locked out with 255 kids in Linden alone sent home. Getting rid of pre K mandates is crucial for not only Freehold Borough, but New Jersey. In a state where education is the lion share of our highest in the nation property taxes, we can ill afford more of these mandates. Specific to our town, pre K for four and three year olds is exactly what Christy says it is, babysitting. Our schools are overcrowded as it is, and we should not be a magnet for people who are looking for tax payer subsidized baby sitting. The cost is too high for something that has very questionable results. |
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Post by richardkelsey on Nov 1, 2009 12:00:33 GMT -5
The Corzine-Christy race is shaping up to have major ramifications for the local race -- but far more importantly, it could prove to have a huge impact on national policy.
The insiders and experts think Corzine will win, for all the reasons I have previously stated. However, everyone is now considering the possibly that Corzine could lose -- and if he does, it could devastate dems nationally. It could also stop Obama's health-care reform in its tracks.
The massive push by the White house and President is proof of two things. First, it proves this is tighter than the dems want. It also proves that Obama thinks Corzine will pull it out. Obama wants to position himself as the savior. He has put his time, his troops, his team, and tons of dem money in because he thinks Corzine and the dems can pull this out with the natural advantages NJ has for dems.
Unlike Virginia, where Obama abandoned the Deeds campaign, and then the Post ran a front page article with un-named Obama sources ripping Deeds and distancing the White house, in NJ they are going all in to save Dem face.
Irrespective of one's opinion of President Obama as a chief executive, his administration is one non-stop political campaign.
His aggressive defense of Corzine tells me he thinks he will win, but it also tells me there is a sense of urgency. If the taxpayers, producers, legal residents, and non-special interests in NJ actually make a stand and take down Corzine -- they may cause the end of Obama care and the pave the way for a diminished role for the far left in the Obama administration.
On top of all that -- a Christy win could present Borough with an interesting down ticket result. I think that is unlikely, but election waves have shocked people before.
On November 2, we will finally see what fight, if any, is left for the middle class taxpayer in Jersey. If they score a win, they may cause a National knockout.
It's actually quite exciting.
Virginia, by the way, is about to reverse 8 years of dem governors with a double-digit victory for a Conservative Republican candidate.
Only NJ and VA have Governors' races this year, and that is why they get the money and attention from every junior white house. A GOP sweep would be a strong rebuke of the direction of the Obama administration. A sweep will have national dems moving to the center and right to save themselves for the 2010 midterms.
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Post by admin on Nov 1, 2009 15:04:50 GMT -5
The Corzine-Christy race is shaping up to have major ramifications for the local race -- but far more importantly, it could prove to have a huge impact on national policy. The insiders and experts think Corzine will win, for all the reasons I have previously stated. However, everyone is now considering the possibly that Corzine could lose -- and if he does, it could devastate dems nationally. It could also stop Obama's health-care reform in its tracks. The massive push by the White house and President is proof of two things. First, it proves this is tighter than the dems want. It also proves that Obama thinks Corzine will pull it out. Obama wants to position himself as the savior. He has put his time, his troops, his team, and tons of dem money in because he thinks Corzine and the dems can pull this out with the natural advantages NJ has for dems. Unlike Virginia, where Obama abandoned the Deeds campaign, and then the Post ran a front page article with un-named Obama sources ripping Deeds and distancing the White house, in NJ they are going all in to save Dem face. Irrespective of one's opinion of President Obama as a chief executive, his administration is one non-stop political campaign. His aggressive defense of Corzine tells me he thinks he will win, but it also tells me there is a sense of urgency. If the taxpayers, producers, legal residents, and non-special interests in NJ actually make a stand and take down Corzine -- they may cause the end of Obama care and the pave the way for a diminished role for the far left in the Obama administration. On top of all that -- a Christy win could present Borough with an interesting down ticket result. I think that is unlikely, but election waves have shocked people before. On November 2, we will finally see what fight, if any, is left for the middle class taxpayer in Jersey. If they score a win, they may cause a National knockout. It's actually quite exciting. Virginia, by the way, is about to reverse 8 years of dem governors with a double-digit victory for a Conservative Republican candidate. Only NJ and VA have Governors' races this year, and that is why they get the money and attention from every junior white house. A GOP sweep would be a strong rebuke of the direction of the Obama administration. A sweep will have national dems moving to the center and right to save themselves for the 2010 midterms. I haven't been paying attention and did not realize that Virginia is out of the loop for the Dems. That does put NJ in the national spotlight in a very big way. I have read analysis and reports stating that the blue dog Dems in swing states are watching us for possible future national trends. They understand their seats are vulnerable and may not jump on the Omabacare ship if voters are not convinced.. As it is, Reid, Pelosi and the President are having a tough time with the Blue dogs. If NJ wind up losing its Dem governor, that will be the nail in the coffin for the extremist health care proposals that are flying around Washington. So NJ is in the spot light. I bet we screw it up. We never learn. |
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Post by admin on Nov 1, 2009 15:06:42 GMT -5
Bribing the voters of New Jersey How Democrats like Corzine survive
By STEVE MALANGA
With just two days to go, the New Jersey gubernatorial election has turned into a horse race among three candidates, a remarkable development considering that the incumbent, Democrat Jon Corzine, has huge unfavorable ratings. As one radio talk-show host put it: “Who is voting for Corzine?”
The answer is simple: people who benefit from big government. In a high-tax, big-spending place like Jersey, much of the burden of funding government falls on a narrow slice of residents who pay steeply progressive taxes, while the benefits of expanding government are enjoyed by those who receive more in services than they pay in taxes, or those who work for the government.
Even a candidate like Corzine, with high unfavorables and a tax-and-spend record, can count on support from about 40% of the electorate. That’s a pretty good starting point, especially when the anti-tax crowd divides its vote among two other candidates — in this case, Republican Chris Christie and Independent Chris Daggett.
To understand how voting patterns work, look at who pays for government in Jersey, and who benefits. The state has one of the most progressive income tax structures, so that residents earning more than $250,000 in 2007 (the last year data are available) constituted just 3.9% of all households but paid 59% of state income taxes. And these folks will pay an even bigger share of the burden this year because Corzine raised their tax rates and cut some of their deductions.
Then look at the massive geographical redistribution of wealth that is going on in Jersey. Several years ago two Rutgers University professors studied the flow of tax dollars throughout the state and concluded that six suburban counties (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris and Somerset) were sending $2 billion more in taxes to Trenton than they received in state services. At the same time four urban counties (Camden, Essex, Hudson, Passaic) received $2 billion more in state aid than they paid in taxes.
That money is used to pay for government and school systems in cities like Camden and Newark. The state, for instance, pays more than 90% of the bill for the Camden school system, one reason why the schools there can spend a whopping $22,000 per student. So it’s no wonder that Camden residents will support Corzine against any candidate who promises to rein in state spending. In one poll, 61% of the state’s urban dwellers said they would vote for Corzine.
Jersey also has a problem with high local property taxes, and the solution has been to heavily politicize the system through a rebate program that creates yet more winners and losers.
Like most rebates, Jersey’s works by taking revenues from other taxes, especially the income and sales tax, and funneling them into fat checks for some homeowners. Jersey has based rebates on household income levels and other qualifications, like senior citizen status, but over time the state has reduced and then eliminated the rebates for higher income earners. So a number of residents are financing a program through their income-tax payments from which they themselves are now excluded.
Such rebate programs, which do nothing to solve fiscal problems because they don’t address overspending, are nonetheless popular among some voters, which is why politicians struggle to maintain them at the expense of true reform. In Jersey, where seniors have been among the biggest beneficiaries of rebates, polls show Corzine leading his two opponents in support from those aged 65-and-over.
The other important constituency of the Corzine candidacy is public sector workers, who wield enormous power in New Jersey. The state has the fourth highest level of public worker unionization in the country, with 63% of its workers in unions, and the state’s workers have used their power to garner some of the highest pay and benefits in the country. Average teacher salaries in Jersey, for instance, are $60,000 a year, third highest of any state.
Big government in New Jersey has meant a rapidly growing public workforce, providing more foot soldiers in political campaigns. Since 2000, for instance, the number of full and full-time equivalent state and local government workers has grown by 13%, or 55,000 workers, at a time when the state’s population has increased by just 3% and its private sector workforce has not added any new jobs. Although state workers have lately been upset with Corzine because a sharp fiscal pinch forced him into budget cutting, the unions have all backed him because Christie and Daggett have taken a tougher line about worker costs and spending.
The state’s teachers union, the NJEA, for instance, has sent mailings to 200,000 of its members detailing a list of things Christie claims he will do to reduce their power. For election day, the NJEA promises to have 3,000 workers at polls, triple the number of the last election.
What’s happening in Jersey is the inevitable consequence of big government. As the public sector grows, reform becomes harder. And Jersey may be a preview of where our national politics are going.
The vast expansion of the federal government is giving more and more people a stake in big government. Federal stimulus funds have kept state and local payrolls growing even as the private sector has shrunk. Meanwhile, fewer and fewer taxpayers will bear the burden of this bigger government. Under President Obama’s current tax plans, credits and tax cuts will raise the percentage of American households who do not have to pay income taxes to 45% of all those who file returns.
When we get to the point where nearly half the country doesn’t bear any responsibility for the cost of government, that will ensure a Jersey-like, built-in constituency for an ever-growing public sector.
Steve Malanga is senior editor at the Manhattan Institute’s City Journal.
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Post by admin on Nov 2, 2009 16:17:56 GMT -5
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Post by admin on Nov 2, 2009 16:21:11 GMT -5
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Post by admin on Nov 2, 2009 17:21:56 GMT -5
PS...If there are any Dagget or Corzine fans out there, feel free to join in the discussion here. It is an open site where all are welcome.
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Post by richardkelsey on Nov 3, 2009 23:05:46 GMT -5
The Corzine-Christy race is shaping up to have major ramifications for the local race -- but far more importantly, it could prove to have a huge impact on national policy. The insiders and experts think Corzine will win, for all the reasons I have previously stated. However, everyone is now considering the possibly that Corzine could lose -- and if he does, it could devastate dems nationally. It could also stop Obama's health-care reform in its tracks. The massive push by the White house and President is proof of two things. First, it proves this is tighter than the dems want. It also proves that Obama thinks Corzine will pull it out. Obama wants to position himself as the savior. He has put his time, his troops, his team, and tons of dem money in because he thinks Corzine and the dems can pull this out with the natural advantages NJ has for dems. Unlike Virginia, where Obama abandoned the Deeds campaign, and then the Post ran a front page article with un-named Obama sources ripping Deeds and distancing the White house, in NJ they are going all in to save Dem face. Irrespective of one's opinion of President Obama as a chief executive, his administration is one non-stop political campaign. His aggressive defense of Corzine tells me he thinks he will win, but it also tells me there is a sense of urgency. If the taxpayers, producers, legal residents, and non-special interests in NJ actually make a stand and take down Corzine -- they may cause the end of Obama care and the pave the way for a diminished role for the far left in the Obama administration. On top of all that -- a Christy win could present Borough with an interesting down ticket result. I think that is unlikely, but election waves have shocked people before. On November 2, we will finally see what fight, if any, is left for the middle class taxpayer in Jersey. If they score a win, they may cause a National knockout. It's actually quite exciting. Virginia, by the way, is about to reverse 8 years of dem governors with a double-digit victory for a Conservative Republican candidate. Only NJ and VA have Governors' races this year, and that is why they get the money and attention from every junior white house. A GOP sweep would be a strong rebuke of the direction of the Obama administration. A sweep will have national dems moving to the center and right to save themselves for the 2010 midterms. I have to say -- Corzine really sank some ships tonight. He hit almost every little boat in every little town. Then, of course, he may well have turned the national elections up-side-down. To top it off, he may have just killed health care "reform." At a minimum, the "public option" is dead. The shockingly low dem turnout, combined with the massive turnout of independents and the fired-up opposition party caused a stunning defeat. I saw one commentator, a democrat, say earlier -- it takes a special democrat to lose New Jersey. On the local election -- I bet it will take some research to find the last time a democrat finished fourth in a four person year in Freehold. |
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